ObjectiveTo systematically review the effectiveness and safety of intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion chemotherapy (IHPC) for ovarian cancer, so as to provide references for clinical practice and studies. MethodsWe electronically searched PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 6, 2013), Web of Science, WanFang Data, CBM, VIP and CNKI for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about IHPC vs. intravenous chemotherapy (IC) for ovarian cancer from the inception of the databases to June 2013. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.1 software. ResultsA total of 10 RCTs involving 723 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the IHPC group was superior to the IC group in clinical efficiency (OR=4.02, 95%CI 2.85 to 5.68, P < 0.000 01), clinical benefit response (OR=3.41, 95%CI 2.13 to 5.45, P < 0.000 01), recurrence and metastasis rates (OR=0.29, 95%CI 0.20 to 0.42, P < 0.000 1), and overall survival rates (OR=3.30, 95%CI 1.82 to 5.99, P < 0.000 1). In the aspect of safety, no significant difference was found in bone marrow suppression, hemoglobin reduction, nausea and vomiting between two groups. ConclusionIHPC for ovarian cancer can improve clinical efficiency, clinical benefit response and overall survival rates, and reduce recurrence and metastasis rates; and it is also safe for patients.